LLOR-DING IT
Leeds 1 Watford 0: Llorente fires clincher as Bielsa’s men avoid setting club record of no wins in first seven games
DIEGO LLORENTE put Leeds in seventh heaven as they avoided the hell of an unwanted piece of club history.
The Spanish defender marked his return from another injury lay-off with a crucial 18th-minute strike - his first goal in six months - to sink Watford.
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It sealed a desperately-needed first Premier League win for Leeds - and stopped them going seven games without a victory at the start of a campaign for the first time in 94 seasons as a league side.
It brought relief to boss Marcelo Bielsa and his side as they moved out of the bottom three.
But they got a massive let-off in the 73rd minute when keeper Illan Meslier dropped a corner and the ball spun back into the net.
Referee Simon Hooper spared Meslier's blushes when he blew for a foul by Watford defender Christian Kabasele on Liam Cooper just before the blunder.
Tyler Roberts then acrobatically volleyed against the bar after Juraj Kucka had blocked his first effort on the line.
Leeds were dominant and created a glut of early chances.
Raphina had a drive blocked by William Ekong before Stuart Dallas was involved in a couple more.
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The Irishman forced Ben Foster into a fine 10th-minute save and the Watford keeper belied his 38 years by quickly stretching out a leg to clear the loose ball as Daniel James moved in.
Seven minutes later Dallas worked an opening for himself by linking up with Junior Firpo and then Mateusz Klich, but ballooned his finish high and wide.
Frustrations turned to feverish celebrations moments later though when Leeds claimed the opener.
Rafinha’s corner was headed back into the danger area by Kucka and, on the turn, Llorente neatly steered in his second goal for the club - and first since an equaliser against Liverpool in April.
The centre-back has been troubled by injuries since he joined Leeds just over a year ago.
But Llorente also helped take the sting out of a poor Hornets attack at the other end too.
Ozan Tufan blasted their only first-half chance over and the hosts should have wrapped up the victory long before the end.
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James had a penalty claim harshly rejected when he was caught by Ekong and Klich sent a rasping right-foot volley inches wide.
In a nervy second half, Meslier was finally tested when he spread himself well to block Emmanuel Dennis’s finish from a tight angle.
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But the Frenchman was fortunate when his mistake went unpunished from the resulting corner.
Roberts should have settled it with his double chance two minutes from time, but Leeds saw out a tense climax.
Leeds vs West Ham as it happened